Published: Saturday, November 30, 2013 at 9:30 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, November 30, 2013 at 9:30 p.m.

Photo Galleries

At that moment, everything seemed to have come together for Alabama. When AJ McCarron, throwing out of his own end zone, found Amari Cooper for a 99-yard touchdown, it seemed that the world was indeed perfect for Alabama. The Crimson Tide appeared poised to win the game and continue its march to Pasadena. McCarron would win the Heisman — at least Twitter exploded with “Heisman moment!” tweets even before Cooper finished racing to the end zone. Alabama had not been perfect, but it had responded as it has so many times before. It had silenced the crowd and, seemingly, weathered the storm. It was high tide.

Then, slowly, it began to recede. Alabama was given a golden opportunity to win the game after Gus Malzahn made the bad choice of going for a fourth down at his own 35-yard line. But the drive stalled at the 13, with Alabama being stuffed on third-and-1. Instead of going with his faltering field-goal kicker, Cade Foster, Saban thought the percentages were higher on fourth-and-1. But he did not make it.

The Alabama defense held, though, forcing a punt that Christion Jones returned for even better field position, all the way to the Auburn 25. This time, when T.J. Yeldon broke loose at left end and burst down to the Auburn 5-yard line, points seemed assured. But a holding call negated the run and left Alabama with a third-and-12 (there were also offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct calls on the play). UA couldn’t convert. This time, Saban did call on Foster, but his kick was blocked — and the tide was slowly, inexorably going out.

In addition to Auburn gaining possession, yet another penalty — another dead-ball personal foul — gave the Tigers 15 much-needed bonus yards. Auburn went on to score on a busted coverage. Alabama didn’t quit.

Instead, it did just enough to unwittingly sow the seeds of its own destruction. Forget the Iron Bowl. Call it the Irony Bowl. Had UA simply given up, it could have at least forced overtime. But it got just close enough to tempt Saban to attempt a long bomb of a field goal by freshman Adam Griffith.

The rest is already Alabama-Auburn history. Griffith’s kick fell just short enough to allow a return, and Auburn’s Chris Davis returned it, and just like that it was no longer high tide at all, but low tide, the very ocean bottom exposed to show the shimmering shards of dreams shattered like so many shells in the crush.

For Alabama, which had come as close as anyone in modern football to the three-peat dream, it was a crushing moment. For Auburn, it was the glorious continuation of what may be a championship season, although it is hard to imagine that the crystal football itself would bring more sheer joy to the Plains than the Tigers and their fans felt on Saturday night.

Alabama fans, though, should remember this. Forget about blaming Cade Foster, or any other player. Nick Saban may have made some decisions that didn’t work out, but he made them using the same instincts that have brought three national titles to Tuscaloosa.

This is low tide, no doubt. In its wake, every mistake is amplified, every decision question, every painful moment relieved. But the law of nature is that it will eventually be high tide again. Alabama fans haven’t had to wait for that very long, not for years. There almost certainly won’t be the near-instant vindication for November losses that the 2011 and 2012 teams were granted. Only unthinkable BCS chaos could provide that.

This time, Alabama fans have to wait, probably for a year. The pain of Saturday’s loss will not disappear in a year, the departure of storied seniors won’t sting less. There is no fast relief. That is natural.

High tide will not come again with the suddenness that it disappeared on Saturday night. But in time, it will come again. The question is, how much time? That is a question Alabama hasn’t had to face recently — and it will be fascinating to see the answer.

<p>There were 10 minutes and 28 seconds left to play. And it was high tide.</p><p>At that moment, everything seemed to have come together for Alabama. When AJ McCarron, throwing out of his own end zone, found Amari Cooper for a 99-yard touchdown, it seemed that the world was indeed perfect for Alabama. The Crimson Tide appeared poised to win the game and continue its march to Pasadena. McCarron would win the Heisman — at least Twitter exploded with “Heisman moment!” tweets even before Cooper finished racing to the end zone. Alabama had not been perfect, but it had responded as it has so many times before. It had silenced the crowd and, seemingly, weathered the storm. It was high tide.</p><p>Then, slowly, it began to recede. Alabama was given a golden opportunity to win the game after Gus Malzahn made the bad choice of going for a fourth down at his own 35-yard line. But the drive stalled at the 13, with Alabama being stuffed on third-and-1. Instead of going with his faltering field-goal kicker, Cade Foster, Saban thought the percentages were higher on fourth-and-1. But he did not make it. </p><p>The Alabama defense held, though, forcing a punt that Christion Jones returned for even better field position, all the way to the Auburn 25. This time, when T.J. Yeldon broke loose at left end and burst down to the Auburn 5-yard line, points seemed assured. But a holding call negated the run and left Alabama with a third-and-12 (there were also offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct calls on the play). UA couldn't convert. This time, Saban did call on Foster, but his kick was blocked — and the tide was slowly, inexorably going out.</p><p>In addition to Auburn gaining possession, yet another penalty — another dead-ball personal foul — gave the Tigers 15 much-needed bonus yards. Auburn went on to score on a busted coverage. Alabama didn't quit. </p><p>Instead, it did just enough to unwittingly sow the seeds of its own destruction. Forget the Iron Bowl. Call it the Irony Bowl. Had UA simply given up, it could have at least forced overtime. But it got just close enough to tempt Saban to attempt a long bomb of a field goal by freshman Adam Griffith. </p><p>The rest is already Alabama-Auburn history. Griffith's kick fell just short enough to allow a return, and Auburn's Chris Davis returned it, and just like that it was no longer high tide at all, but low tide, the very ocean bottom exposed to show the shimmering shards of dreams shattered like so many shells in the crush.</p><p>For Alabama, which had come as close as anyone in modern football to the three-peat dream, it was a crushing moment. For Auburn, it was the glorious continuation of what may be a championship season, although it is hard to imagine that the crystal football itself would bring more sheer joy to the Plains than the Tigers and their fans felt on Saturday night.</p><p>Alabama fans, though, should remember this. Forget about blaming Cade Foster, or any other player. Nick Saban may have made some decisions that didn't work out, but he made them using the same instincts that have brought three national titles to Tuscaloosa.</p><p>This is low tide, no doubt. In its wake, every mistake is amplified, every decision question, every painful moment relieved. But the law of nature is that it will eventually be high tide again. Alabama fans haven't had to wait for that very long, not for years. There almost certainly won't be the near-instant vindication for November losses that the 2011 and 2012 teams were granted. Only unthinkable BCS chaos could provide that.</p><p>This time, Alabama fans have to wait, probably for a year. The pain of Saturday's loss will not disappear in a year, the departure of storied seniors won't sting less. There is no fast relief. That is natural.</p><p>High tide will not come again with the suddenness that it disappeared on Saturday night. But in time, it will come again. The question is, how much time? That is a question Alabama hasn't had to face recently — and it will be fascinating to see the answer. </p><p><I>Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil@tidesports.com or 205-722-0225.</i></p>